ICIT extends restrictions on imports of sulfuric acid and oleum for 3 years – Economy Ministry

KYIV. Aug 30 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade (ICIT) to protect domestic chemical enterprises has extended restrictions on imports of sulfuric acid and oleum for three years, the Ministry of Economy said following a meeting of the commission on August 27.

"To protect domestic chemical enterprises, the commission extended the quotas for imports of sulfuric acid and oleum to Ukraine for three years. Taking into account the consumers of these products, the volume of quotas will increase annually by 15%," the ministry said on its website on Saturday, August 27.

In the first summer period, which begins on September 1, 2021, the volume of the quota is 55,427 tonnes, in the second – 63,741 tonnes, in the third – 73,302 tonnes, the Ministry of Economy said.

"The issue of establishing the facts of discriminatory and / or unfriendly actions on the part of the Republic of Belarus and the need for Ukraine to take measures in connection with the special conditions for the supply of Belarusian potash products to Ukraine was also discussed. The commission did not confirm the existence of these facts," the ministry added.

As reported, in the summer of 2018, the commission introduced quotas for these products for three years. For the first year, the import quota for sulfuric acid and oleum from Belarus amounted to 30,800 tonnes, Russia – 8,600 tonnes, other countries – 4,300 tonnes. In the second year, quotas were increased, respectively, to 32,300 tonnes, 9,100 tonnes and 4,500 tonnes, in the third year – to 33,900 tonnes, 9,500 tonnes and 4,800 tonnes.

The quotas do not apply to imports from about 50 countries, including Kazakhstan.

A number of Ukrainian metallurgical companies opposed the introduction of restrictions on the import of sulfuric acid, while chemical enterprises insisted on their introduction.